Grand Island toll taker case ends with fine, apology

T.J. Pignataro

News Staff Reporter

December 02, 2009, 10:04 PM /

The fired Grand Island Bridge toll collector who sent threatening e-mails to an
anti-toll activist on the Island pleaded guilty to a violation charge of
harassment Wednesday evening in Grand Island Town Court.

David Zelonis, 53, was fined $150 and assessed a $125 state surcharge by
Grand Island Justice Sybil Kennedy, who also continued an order of protection
for Zelonis to stay away from Rus Thompson for an additional one year. He could
have faced up to 15 days in jail.

Zelonis initially was arraigned on a misdemeanor charge of aggravated
harassment after targeting Thompson in early 2007. One of the threatening
e-mails suggested a fire could start in Thompson's house.

Thompson leads an ongoing charge to have the toll barriers removed at the
Grand Island Bridges. It was alleged that Zelonis believed he would lose his job
as a result.

Instead, Zelonis' actions resulted in his termination.

The Thruway Authority fired Zelonis on Nov. 4 for misconduct in connection
with the e-mail messages they said were meant to repeatedly "badger, harass
and intimidate" the customer, Thompson said.

Thompson said he requested Zelonis be spared jail time.

"I didn't want him to go to jail," he said. "It's over with
and that's all I wanted. It's been dragging on for three years now."

Thompson said he would have been willing to shake Zelonis' hand after his
court appearance, but Zelonis seemed unwilling. Thompson said he also doubts the
sincerity of Zelonis' apology.

Instead of apologizing to him directly, Thompson said, Zelonis said he was
"sorry to Mr. Thompson" while addressing Kennedy at the bench and then
to assembled media outside the courtroom afterward.